The LGBTQ community is in mourning as the Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirms that two gay men found dead after leaving popular Hell’s Kitchen bars in New York City last year were homicide victims. Julio Ramirez and John Umberger’s deaths were caused by “drug-facilitated theft,” with both men’s bank accounts drained of approximately $20,000. The deaths have sparked fears that the men were targeted because of their sexual orientation, and prompted more gay New Yorkers to come forward with similar accounts of robbery and assault.
Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, was found dead in the back of a taxi an hour after being seen leaving the Ritz Bar and Lounge with three unidentified men on April 20. Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant, was found dead a month later after leaving another popular gay bar, the Q, with two unidentified men. The medical examiner’s report revealed that both men died of “acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, cocaine, lidocaine and ethanol.” The families of both men believe that they were drugged and targeted.
The NYPD has confirmed additional accounts of grand larcenies at other New York City gay bars that resemble Ramirez’s and Umberger’s cases. New York City Council member Erik Bottcher, whose district includes Hell’s Kitchen, is calling on the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to move forward with charges “as soon as possible.” “We demand justice for the people who murdered Julio Ramirez and John Umberger,” Bottcher said in a text message. “As we approach the one-year anniversary of their murders, the pain experienced by their families, friends, and our entire community has only been exacerbated by the fact that their killers have not been brought to justice.”
The investigation is still ongoing, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, and no suspects have been identified or arrested. The deaths of Ramirez and Umberger have highlighted the ongoing vulnerability of LGBTQ people to violence and crime, and the need for greater protections and resources for the community.